POLICE officers in Lancashire have filed more compensation claims against their employer than almost any other force in the county, an investigation has revealed.

Of the forces that responded to a Freedom of Information request from Newsquest’s Data Unit, only the Metropolitan Police and Police Scotland had received more compensation claims from officers working for them.

A total of 83 claims have been submitted to the force in the last five years, with Lancashire Constabulary paying out £594,070.55 in the same period.

Dog attacks, trauma following the death of a toddler and an accidental shooting are among reported incidents that drove police employees to lodge more than 1,900 compensation claims against their own forces nationally over the last five years.

The data also highlights numerous pay-outs and allegations related to injuries sustained via falls, training exercises, defective equipment and unsuitable workplace environments.

Claims were also lodged in relation to animal attacks, assaults, violent incidents and road traffic accidents.

Clive Knight, the Police Federation’s health and safety lead, said preventing injuries was in the interest of all officers, their colleagues and the public in order to “reduce absences on an already stretched service”.

He added: “The Government and chief officers must do all they can to ensure the physical and mental welfare of officers is protected to allow them to keep doing their jobs, serving the public to the best of their ability.

“The consequences for officers who suffer an injury on duty are wide-ranging. It can affect their ability to perform their required role, their personal life and in extreme cases it can even end their policing career.As well as physical injury, it is important to note that increasingly these cases focus on the psychological harm police officers can suffer as a result of their work.”

The Federation is campaigning to raise awareness of the toll police work can have on mental health and is pushing for improved health and safety practices.

A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “Every day police officers and staff run towards danger and deal with numerous traumatic events. Chief officers take their duty to protect their workforce very seriously.”

Lancashire Police were contacted for a comment.